It’s one of Ethiopia’s most beautiful assets and a vital part of its ecology and scenery, but the Ethiopian wolf could soon be extinct. As the Born Free Foundation makes its campaign to save these creatures a fundraising priority this summer, voyager discovers why this important animal continues to inspire

HIGH IN THE mountains of the Bale National Park, about a day’s journey from Addis Ababa, live the last of the Ethiopian wolves, the world’s most endangered wild dogs. With their rust-coloured coats, they resemble the familiar British woodland fox moreso than the better known grey wolf. Many people have never even heard of this endangered African mammal, and the population has now dwindled to a startlingly low 500, only half of which are currently at breeding age. In short, the Ethiopian Wolf is on the brink of extinction.

“It’s a unique situation,” explains Alison Hood of the environmental charity Born Free Foundation (www.bornfree.org.uk), which employs around 30 local people in the nearby community of Dinsho to monitor and protect the wolves, making wolf conservation the single largest source of employment here. “There are no Ethiopian wolves in captivity,” she reports. “All the efforts to conserve this animal are happening in the wild. It’s such an endangered – and flagship – species for Ethiopia.”

When you get to the mountains, ironically your chances of seeing the wolves are reasonably good.

“Once you’re in the right area, the Ethiopian wolf is actually very easy to see,” says Hood, who has travelled here from Britain as part of her work as programmes director for Born Free’s campaigns department.

“The scenery where it lives – the beautiful highlands of Ethiopia – is absolutely stunning and to see it here is fantastic. People who are lucky enough to get to go to the Bale Mountains National Park definitely stand a chance of seeing the wolves,” she continues. “They’ve got very small territories compared to grey wolves which can have territories of 1,000km squared; the Ethiopian wolf has a territory of about 6-13km squared. And they are not as scared of humans as some animals are, as there’s been relatively little persecution of them by people.”

It’s not direct hunting by humans which is threatening the species; rather the expansion of farming settlements has pushed the animals ever higher up into the mountains and eroded their habitat. Another threat to the wolves’ survival has come from contracting rabies from domesticated dogs. In 1991, rabies wiped out three quarters of the wolf population here, followed by outbreaks in 2003 and 2004, so vaccinating dogs against rabies is a large part of the battle. “The benefits are that the dogs are healthier, it protects the wolves, and it also protects the people and cattle that might get bitten by a dog,” explains Hood. “Vaccinating the dogs is a continuous project, because we’re trying to maintain at least 70% of the dogs being vaccinated every three years.” Each vaccination costs £2.50.

Born Free employs local people as wardens, veterinary assistants and education officers, and children are encouraged to learn about and discuss the issues facing the wolves. The charity has even funded a sports centre in Dinsho, which also hosts conservation education events.

The locals might not have heard of him, but wolves also have a champion in Irish comedian and TV presenter Graham Norton, a Born Free Foundation ambassador. He visited Bale Mountains National Park for last year’s BBC programme Saving Planet Earth, shadowing biologist Dr Claudio Sillero, who first brought the plight of the wolves to the world’s attention by founding the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (www.ethiopianwolf.org) which Born Free supports.

“I’m just so honoured to have spent time with Claudio Sillero and his team to see their work,” says Norton. “When I arrived I was expecting a few dirty, dog-like wolves and a bit of a desert. But it’s absolutely gorgeous; the sort of scenery that makes you cry. It’s hard to believe why, in such an unspoilt wilderness, there are just a handful of wolves left.”

The wolves are part of the eco-system of the Bale Mountains, which is a vital water catchment area for Ethiopia, and there is cause for concern that their threatened extinction through increased farming of their habitat could have a knock-on impact on other animals and the clean water supply. Sillero explains: “Ethiopian wolves are the guardians of the Bale Mountains and the mountains are the source of water for a huge area of the Horn of Africa. So, if we were to lose these mountains [to farming], not only would we lose many species of plants and animals but we’d also be affecting human lives downstream.”

Norton is certainly among those convinced: “I don’t think it’s just about saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if these wolves stayed alive?’ It’s about saying, these wolves have to stay alive, because if these wolves are dead that means the mountains are dead, and that means no clean water for millions of people. It’s not about prioritising animals over people; it’s about the bigger picture. The Bale Mountains are incredibly special and beautiful. And if you save the wolves, you save the place.”

Seeing the wolf in Ethiopia
As with any nature tourism, there is no guarantee of seeing the Ethiopian wolf when you visit the Bale Mountains National Park, but it’s certainly possible. Other animals you might catch a glimpse of include leopards and baboons, and a vast number of bird species including lovebirds. For your own safety, only visit with a guide or tour operator you trust. Also, be aware that some visitors find the high-altitude conditions challenging; for research visit www.baletrek.com and www.africaguide.com

HELP SAVE THE WOLF

Walk For Wolves
To help raise funds for the protection of the Ethiopian wolf, the Born Free Foundation hosts a sponsored Walk For Wolves on 7 September in London. The start point is Battersea Park and there is a choice of different route lengths. Anyone can participate, but dog-owners are encouraged to get their pet sponsored as a fun gesture. Register for the walk and you’ll be sent a Walking For Wolves T-shirt and a Born Free collar for your dog; www.bornfree.org.uk/get-involved/events/walk-for-wolves

Adopt A Wolf
You can ‘adopt’ a particular breed of Ethiopian wolf, the Sodata pack. The £24 annual fee includes a framed colour photo of the wolves and regular progress updates, and proceeds go towards helping to fund conservation efforts; www.bornfree.org.uk/give/adopt-an-animal/wolf

It’s a wolf’s life Ethiopian wolves (also known as Simien foxes) live in family packs and have highly developed social structures to share the parental care of pups. Smaller than grey wolves and fox-like in appearance, the creatures are slender, have a reddish coat and black markings on their tails. The animals’ typical day means rising in the morning and greeting one another before patrolling their territory and hunting for food.